Stirling engine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a Stirling engine capable of effectively recovering heat from exhaust gas flowing through a flue, and connecting a heating portion  10  and a regeneration portion  5  with each other through an operation gas tube without providing a flow passage separating portion  110 , and the heating portion  10  includes a heating portion head  10   a  and a heat-transfer tube group, the heating portion head  10   a  includes first through holes  30 R and second through holes  30 S, the first through holes  30 R are formed closer to a center region of the heating portion head  10   a  as compared with the second through holes  30 S, one ends of U-shaped tubes are mounted in the first through holes  30 R and the other ends of them are mounted in the second through holes  30 S, and parallel exhaust gas flow passages is formed between the U-shaped tubes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a Stirling engine for recovering heat from exhaust gas which flows through a flue.

BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE

To effectively make use of a heat source such as waste heat, biomass, and heat and cold is to solve an environmental problem and an energy problem. A Stirling engine has features that the engine does not select a heat source and the engine can be operated if there is a temperature difference. Therefore, the Stirling engine is suitable for effectively making use of the heat source.

Attention is paid to heat recovery from exhaust gas flowing through a flue as utilization of waste heat, and a Stirling engine suitable for installation of such a flue is proposed (non-patent document 1).

According to non-patent document 1, a heating portion disposed in the flue includes U-shaped tubes laterally arranged in a row. Combustion gas is made to flow perpendicularly to a direction of the row of the U-shaped tubes which function as heaters, thereby uniformizing a heater temperature distribution.

The present inventors figured out the heating portion shown in FIG. 13 by reference to non-patent document 1.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an essential portion showing a configuration of the heating portion of the Stirling engine.

As shown in FIG. 13, as the heating portion of the Stirling engine, U-shaped tubes 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 having difference sizes and similar shapes are disposed on the same plane, and the U-shaped tubes 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 are laterally arranged in a row. The heating portion shown in FIG. 13 makes combustion gas to flow perpendicularly to a direction of the row of the U-shaped tubes like non-patent document 1 as shown with arrows in FIG. 13. When a pressure loss of exhaust gas at the heating portion of the U-shaped tube does not cause a problem, exhaust gas is made to flow in parallel to the direction of the in the row, more combustion gas is brought into contact with the U-shaped tubes to increase a heat-transfer area, and an amount of heat taken from the heating portion into the engine may be enhanced.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   [Non-Patent Document 1] “Eleventh Stirling engine cycle symposium”,     pages 41 to 42 of lecture dissertation (development research of 3 kW     Stirling engine dynamo-electric generator), issued by Incorporated     Association, The Japanese Society of Mechanical Engineers on Nov. 5,     2008

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the Stirling engine of this kind, a high temperature space is formed between a displacer piston and the heating portion, and a regeneration portion and a cooling portion are disposed on an outer periphery of the displacer piston. Therefore, if one ends of the U-shaped tubes 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 are located in the high temperature space of a center region and the other ends are located in the regeneration portion of an outer periphery region, the U-shaped tubes 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 can be connected directly to the high temperature space and the regeneration portion, and operation gas can smoothly flow.

According to a configuration of the heating portion shown in FIG. 13, however, to connect the one ends of the U-shaped tubes 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 to the high temperature space and to connect the other ends to the regeneration portion, a flow passage separating portion is required. This point will be described using FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the flow passage separating portion of the Stirling engine shown in FIG. 13 as viewed from a side of the heating portion.

A flow passage separating portion 110 includes a first opening 110A and a second opening 110B which are in communication with the heating portion. The first opening 110A is formed in an inner peripheral side of the heating portion, and the second opening 110B is formed in an outer peripheral side of the heating portion. If the heating portion is divided into two portions, the first opening 110A is formed in one of the portions and the second opening 110B is formed in the other portion.

The U-shaped tubes 101 are located in one end openings 101X and the other end openings 101Y, the U-shaped tubes 102 are located in one end openings 102X and the other end openings 102Y, the U-shaped tubes 103 are located in one end openings 103X and the other end openings 103Y, the U-shaped tubes 104 are located in one end openings 104X and the other end openings 104Y, and the U-shaped tubes 105 are located in one end openings 105X and the other end openings 105Y.

In FIG. 14, the one end openings 103X of the U-shaped tubes 103, the one end openings 104X of the U-shaped tubes 104, and the one end openings 105X of the U-shaped tubes 105 are located in the first opening 110A. The other end openings 101Y of the U-shaped tubes 101 and the other end openings 102Y of the U-shaped tubes 102 are located in the second opening 110B. The one end openings 101X of the U-shaped tubes 101, the one end openings 102X of the U-shaped tubes 102, the other end openings 103Y of the U-shaped tubes 103, the other end openings 104Y of the U-shaped tubes 104, and the other end openings 105Y of the U-shaped tubes 105 are not brought into communication with the heating portion through the flow passage separating portion 110, and they are connected to a regeneration portion from an outer peripheral end of the flow passage separating portion 110.

According to the Stirling engine shown in FIG. 13, one ends of the U-shaped tubes 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105 can be connected to the high temperature space and the other ends thereof can be connected to the regeneration portion by providing the flow passage separating portion 110 shown in FIG. 14.

Although non-patent document 1 does not disclose the flow passage separating portion, if a member corresponding to the flow passage separating portion 110 shown in FIG. 13 does not exist, operation gas can not flow between the high temperature space and the regeneration portion.

When such a flow passage separating portion 110 is provided, a resistance is generated against a flow of operation gas, and it is necessary to take, into consideration, an influence generated by non-uniform flow on the high temperature space and the regeneration portion.

Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Stirling engine capable of effectively recovering heat from exhaust gas flowing through a flue, and capable of connecting the heating portion and the regeneration portion with each other through an operation gas tube without providing a flow passage separating portion.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a Stirling engine, comprising a displacer piston and a power piston, in which a space is divided into two spaces by the displacer piston, one of the spaces is a high temperature space, and the other space is a low temperature space, a heating portion is disposed at a position opposed to the displacer piston across the high temperature space, a regeneration portion and a cooling portion are disposed on an outer periphery of the displacer piston, operation gas is heated and expanded in the heating portion, the operation gas is cooled and contracted in the cooling portion, and the operation gas is moved between the high temperature space and the low temperature space, wherein the heating portion includes a heating portion head which forms at least a portion of the high temperature space and a heat-transfer tubes mounted on the heating portion head, the heating portion head includes first through holes which are in communication with the high temperature space and second through holes which are in communication with the regeneration portion, the first through holes are formed closer to a center region of the heating portion head as compared with the second through holes, one ends of U-shaped tubes which configure the heat-transfer tubes are mounted in the first through holes and the other ends of the U-shaped tubes are mounted in the second through holes, and the U-shaped tubes are disposed in a direction of a row, thereby forming parallel exhaust gas flow passages between the U-shaped tubes.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of the first aspect, the heat-transfer tubes comprise first heat-transfer tubes located on an upstream side of flow of exhaust gas and second heat-transfer tubes located on a downstream side of flow of the exhaust gas, and the U-shaped tubes configuring the first heat-transfer tubes and the U-shaped tubes configuring the second heat-transfer tubes are provided symmetrically with respect to a division phantom line of the heating portion head as viewed from above.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of the first or second aspect, the heat-transfer tubes include U-shaped tubes having the different sizes, and the U-shaped tubes having different sizes are disposed on the same plane.

According to a forth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of the first to third aspects, the second through holes are disposed in a form of an arc.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of second to forth aspects, the heat-transfer tubes comprise third heat-transfer tubes and fourth heat-transfer tubes, and the U-shaped tubes configuring the third heat-transfer tubes and the U-shaped tubes configuring the fourth heat-transfer tubes are provided symmetrically with respect to a phantom line which intersects with the division phantom line at right angles.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine the fifth aspect, the U-shaped tubes configuring the third heat-transfer tubes and the fourth heat-transfer tubes are larger than the U-shaped tubes configuring the first heat-transfer tubes and the second heat-transfer tubes.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to sixth aspects, each of the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tubes includes a smooth circular tube and a corrugated outer tube which is spirally formed around an outer surface of the smooth circular tube.

According to a eighth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to seventh aspects, the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tubes are made of copper.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to seventh aspects, the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tubes are made of stainless steel.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to seventh aspects, the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tubes are made of titanium or nickel-chromium alloy.

According to a eleventh aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of the ninth or tenth aspect, the heating portion head is made of stainless steel.

Effect of the Invention

According to the invention, since the parallel exhaust gas flow passages are formed between the respective U-shaped tubes, it is possible to efficiently heat the U-shaped tubes. The first through holes are formed closer to the center region of the heating portion head as compared with the second through holes, the one ends of the U-shaped tubes are mounted in the first through holes, and the other ends of the U-shaped tubes are mounted in the second through holes. According to this, operation gas can flow between the high temperature space and the regeneration portion through the U-shaped tubes, and the resistance in the flow passage can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a Stirling engine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a heating portion of the Stirling engine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the heating portion;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the heating portion;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the heating portion;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing another embodiment of the heating portion of the Stirling engine;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the heating portion of the Stirling engine;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the heating portion;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the heating portion;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the heating portion;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the heating portion;

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing another embodiment of U-shaped tubes which configure the heating portion of the Stirling engine;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an essential portion showing a configuration of the heating portion of the Stirling engine;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a flow passage separating portion of the Stirling engine shown in FIG. 13 as viewed from a side of the heating portion; and

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

-   1 displacer piston -   2 power piston -   3 high temperature space -   4 low temperature space -   5 regeneration portion -   6 cooling portion -   7 crankshaft -   8 electricity-generating shaft -   10 heating portion

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to the Stirling engine of the first aspect of the invention, the heating portion includes a heating portion head which forms at least a portion of the high temperature space and a heat-transfer tubes mounted on the heating portion head, the heating portion head includes first through holes which are in communication with the high temperature space and second through holes which are in communication with the regeneration portion, the first through holes are formed closer to a center region of the heating portion head as compared with the second through holes, one ends of U-shaped tubes which configure the heat-transfer tubes are mounted in the first through holes and the other ends of the U-shaped tubes are mounted in the second through holes, and the U-shaped tubes are disposed in a direction of a row, thereby forming parallel exhaust gas flow passages between the U-shaped tubes. With this aspect, since parallel exhaust gas flow passages are formed between the U-shaped tubes, the U-shaped tubes can efficiently be heated. The first through holes are formed closer to the center region of the heating portion head as compared with the second through holes, one ends of the U-shaped tubes are mounted in the first through holes and the other ends of the U-shaped tubes are mounted in the second through holes. According to this, operation gas can flow between the high temperature space and the regeneration portion through the U-shaped tubes. Therefore, the flow passage resistance can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of the first aspect, the heat-transfer tubes comprise first heat-transfer tubes located on an upstream side of flow of exhaust gas and second heat-transfer tubes located on a downstream side of flow of the exhaust gas, and the U-shaped tubes configuring the first heat-transfer tubes and the U-shaped tubes configuring the second heat-transfer tubes are provided symmetrically with respect to a division phantom line of the heating portion head as viewed from above. With this aspect, since the first heat-transfer tubes and the second heat-transfer tubes are provided symmetrically, it is possible to increase the heating amount and to moderate the non-uniform heating.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of the first or second aspect, the heat-transfer tubes include U-shaped tubes having the different sizes, and the U-shaped tubes having different sizes are disposed on the same plane. With this aspect, since the U-shaped tubes having different sizes are disposed on the same plane, the heating amount can further be increased.

According to the forth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to third aspects, the second through holes are disposed in a form of an arc. With this aspect, since operation gas is made to flow between the regeneration portion and the high temperature space, the heating amount can be increased.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of second to forth aspects, the heat-transfer tubes comprise third heat-transfer tubes and fourth heat-transfer tubes, and the U-shaped tubes configuring the third heat-transfer tube group and the U-shaped tubes configuring the fourth heat-transfer tube group are provided symmetrically with respect to a phantom line which intersects with the division phantom line at right angles. With this aspect, the heating amount can further be increased by the third heat-transfer tube group and the fourth heat-transfer tube group.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of the fifth aspect, the U-shaped tubes configuring the third heat-transfer tube group and the fourth heat-transfer tube group are larger than the U-shaped tubes configuring the first heat-transfer tube group and the second heat-transfer tube group. With this aspect, the exhaust gas flow passages formed by the first heat-transfer tube group and the second heat-transfer tube group is maintained and the heating amount can further be increased.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to sixth aspects, each of the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tube group includes a smooth circular tube and a corrugated outer tube which is spirally formed around an outer surface of the smooth circular tube. With this aspect, since operation gas flows through the smooth circular tube, the flow passage resistance is small. A heat transfer area of the outer tube is increased by the outer tube which is spirally formed, heat transfer of a location outside the tube is promoted, and the heat exchanging efficiency can be enhanced.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to seventh aspects, the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tube group are made of copper. With this aspect, the Stirling engine is suitable for being used under a using environment where exhaust gas temperature is 500° C. or lower.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to seventh aspects, the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tube group are made of stainless steel. With this aspect, the Stirling engine is suitable for being used under a using environment where exhaust gas temperature is about 500° C. to 800° C.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of any one of first to seventh aspects, the U-shaped tubes configuring the heat-transfer tube group are made of titanium or nickel-chromium alloy. The U-shaped tube configuring the heat-transfer tube is made of titanium or nickel-chromium alloy. With this aspect, the Stirling engine is suitable for being used under a using environment of high temperature gas where exhaust gas temperature is 800° C. or higher or under a using environment of chlorine-based corrosive exhaust gas or corrosive exhaust gas such as nitric acidhydrofluoric acid.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, in the Stirling engine of the ninth or tenth aspect, the heating portion head is made of stainless steel. In the case of titanium or nickel-chromium alloy, stainless steel material shows excellent welding properties by adjusting welding condition. With this aspect, the U-shaped tube is inserted into the flue which configures the exhaust gas flow passage, the heating portion head is disposed outside of the exhaust gas flow passage. According to this, excellent heat exchanging function is exerted under the using environment of high temperature gas where exhaust gas temperature is 800° C. or higher, under a using environment of corrosive exhaust gas such as chlorine-based corrosive exhaust gas, or under a using environment of oxidation resistance.

Embodiments

A Stirling engine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

An outline configuration of the Stirling engine will first be described using FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of the Stirling engine of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the Stirling engine of the embodiment includes a displacer piston 1 and a power piston 2. A space is divided into two spaces by the displacer piston 1, one of the spaces is defined as a high temperature space 3, and the other space is defined as a low temperature space 4. Operation gas is made to move between the high temperature space 3 and the low temperature space 4. According to the Stirling engine of the embodiment, a heating portion 10 is installed in a heat source gas flow passage through which exhaust gas generated from a shipboard diesel engine is discharged out for example.

The heating portion 10 is located at a position opposed to the displacer piston 1 across the high temperature space 3, and a regeneration portion 5 and a cooling portion 6 are disposed on an outer periphery of the displacer piston 1.

The displacer piston 1 and the power piston 2 are connected to a crankshaft 7, and an electricity-generating shaft 8 is connected to one end of the crankshaft 7.

The regeneration portion 5 is formed into a cylindrical shape, and a metallic mesh heat storage material such as austenitic stainless steel and brass is provided in the regeneration portion 5. Heat is absorbed from high temperature operation gas by the heat storage material, and heat is radiated to a low temperature operation gas.

The cooling portion 6 is also formed into a cylindrical shape, the cooling portion 6 is divided into a passage through which cooling water flows and a passage through which operation gas flows, and the operation gas is cooled by the cooling water.

The heating portion 10 is connected to the regeneration portion 5, and the regeneration portion 5 is connected to the cooling portion 6. The heating portion 10 is in communication with the high temperature space 3, and the cooling portion 6 is in communication with the low temperature space 4.

In the above-described configuration, the displacer piston 1 is operated using an electricity-generator as a power source at the time of a starting operation, and operation gas moves through the high temperature space 3 and the low temperature space 4. The operation gas is heated and expanded by the heating portion 10, and is introduced into the high temperature space 3, the operation gas is cooled and contracted by the cooling portion 6, and is introduced into the low temperature space 4. According to this, a pressure variation is generated in the high temperature space 3 and the low temperature space 4. By this pressure variation, the power piston 2 is operated and an output can be obtained.

That is, the operation gas is heated by the heating portion 10, the filled operation gas is expanded, a pressure difference is received, and the displacer piston 1 is moved downward. By the downward movement of the displacer piston 1, gas existing in the low temperature space 4 between the displacer piston 1 and the power piston 2 is compressed to move the power piston 2 downward. By the downward movement of the power piston 2, the operation gas passes through the heating portion 10, the regeneration portion 5 and the cooling portion 6 from an upper portion (high temperature space 3) of the displacer piston 1, and moves into a lower portion (low temperature space 4) of the displacer piston 1. By upward movement of the displacer piston 1, a pressure in the low temperature space 4 between the displacer piston 1 and the power piston 2 is reduced and according to this, the power piston 2 moves upward. The operation gas which moved to the lower portion of the displacer piston 1 passes through the cooling portion 6, the regeneration portion 5 and the heating portion 10 by upward movement of the power piston 2, and the operation gas moves to the upper portion of the displacer piston 1.

As described above, the operation gas is heated by the heating portion 10 and cooled by the cooling portion 6, and thus, the operation gas is expanded and contracted. In this state, the operation gas reciprocates between the upper portion and the lower portion of the displacer piston 1, the displacer piston 1 is moved and the power piston 2 is moved, thereby generating electricity.

Next, a configuration of the heating portion of the Stirling engine will be described using FIGS. 2 to 5.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the heating portion of the Stirling engine. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the heating portion. FIG. 4 is a side view of the heating portion. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the heating portion.

As shown in these drawings, the heating portion 10 of the Stirling engine according to the embodiment includes a heating portion head 10 a and U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13. The heating portion head 10 a is formed into a spherical shape whose outer surface is convex and whose inner surface is concave. The U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are mounted on the outer surface of the heating portion head 10 a. A plurality of through holes are formed in the heating portion head 10 a as shown in FIG. 5. The U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are fixed to the through holes.

A first heat-transfer tube group A located on an upstream side of flow of exhaust gas and a second heat-transfer tube group B located on a downstream side of the flow of the exhaust gas are formed on the heating portion head 10 a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B are provided symmetrically with respect to a division phantom line Y of the heating portion head 10 a as viewed from above. By providing the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B symmetrically in this manner, a heating amount can be increased.

Arrangement of the U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 of the first heat-transfer tube group A will be described below.

The first heat-transfer tube group A includes the U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 having different sizes and similar shapes, and the U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are disposed on the same plane. The U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are arranged in the direction of the row. For example, the U-shaped tubes 11 comprise a plurality of U-shaped tubes 11 a, 11 b, 11 c . . . having the same shapes and sizes arranged in the direction of the row.

First through holes 30R which are in communication with the high temperature space 3 are formed in a center region R of the heating portion head 10 a, and second through holes 30S which are in communication with the regeneration portion 5 are formed in an outer peripheral region S of the heating portion head 10 a. The second through holes 30S are disposed in a form of arcs. In this embodiment, since three kinds of U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 having different sizes are used, three arcs are formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the first through holes 30R and the second through holes 30S are arranged in three rows (inner row, intermediate row and outer row). A distance between one of the first through holes 30R existing in the inner row and one of the second through holes 30S existing in the inner row at the corresponding location, a distance between one of the first through holes 30R existing in the intermediate row and one of the second through holes 30S in the intermediate row at the corresponding location, and a distance between one of the first through holes 30R existing in the outer row and one of the second through holes 30S existing in the outer row at the corresponding location are equal to each other. The first through holes 30R in the same row (inner row, intermediate row and outer row) are disposed in a form of an arc having the same curvature as that of the second through holes 30S existing in the corresponding row. One ends of the U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are mounted in the first through holes 30R, and the other ends of the U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are mounted in the second through holes 30S.

According to the embodiment, since parallel exhaust gas flow passages are formed between the respective U-shaped tubes 11 a, 11 b, 11 c . . . , it is possible to efficiently heat the U-shaped tubes 11 a, 11 b, 11 c . . . . The first through holes 30R are formed closer to the center region R of the heating portion head 10 a as compared with the second through holes 30S, one ends of the U-shaped tubes 11 a, 11 b, 11 c . . . are mounted in the first through holes 30R, and the other ends of the U-shaped tubes 11 a, 11 b, 11 c . . . are mounted in the second through holes 30S. According to this, since operation gas can flow between the high temperature space 3 and the regeneration portion 5 through the U-shaped tubes 11 a, 11 b, 11 c . . . , a flow passage resistance can be reduced.

Since the U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 having different sizes are disposed on the same plane, a heating amount can further be increased.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing another embodiment of the heating portion of the Stirling engine.

In FIG. 5, three U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are located on both ends of in the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B. According to a configuration shown in FIG. 6, there exist only two U-shaped tubes 12 and 13 on both ends of in the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B. Since the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B are provided symmetrically with respect to the division phantom line Y, the U-shaped tubes 12 and 13 are effectively disposed in the outer peripheral region S having a shorter distance from the division phantom line Y in this embodiment, and the heating amount is increased. In the previous embodiment, in any positions, the three U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 are disposed, but in both ends, two U-shaped tubes 12 and 13 can be disposed on both the ends as in the present embodiment. Although the number of tubes is changed on both ends as in the present embodiment, the number of tubes disposed at an intermediate position may be changed.

Another embodiment of the heating portion of the Stirling engine will be described using FIGS. 7 to 11.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the heating portion of the Stirling engine of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the heating portion. FIG. 9 is a side view of the heating portion. FIG. 10 is a front view of the heating portion. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the heating portion.

The same functions as those of the previous embodiment are designated with the same symbols, and explanation thereof will be omitted.

A heating portion 10 of this embodiment includes a heating portion head 10 a, and the heating portion head 10 a includes a third heat-transfer tube group C and a fourth heat-transfer tube group D. A plurality of U-shaped tubes 14 configuring the third heat-transfer tube group C and a plurality of U-shaped tubes 15 configuring the fourth heat-transfer tube group D are provided symmetrically with respect to a division phantom line X of the heating portion head 10 a as viewed from above. The division phantom line X is a phantom line which intersects with the division phantom line Y at right angles. The U-shaped tubes 14 and 15 configuring the third heat-transfer tube group C and the fourth heat-transfer tube group D are formed large so that they upwardly straddle the U-shaped tubes 11, 12 and 13 which configure the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B.

According to the present embodiment, since the third heat-transfer tube group C and the fourth heat-transfer tube group D are further provided, it is possible to increase the heating amount.

According to the embodiment, it is possible to further increase the heating amount while maintaining the exhaust gas flow passages formed by the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B.

The first through holes 30R which are in communication with the high temperature space 3 are formed in the center region R of the heating portion head 10 a, and the second through holes 30S which are in communication with the regeneration portion 5 are formed in the outer peripheral region S of the heating portion head 10 a. The second through holes 30S which corresponds to the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B are disposed in a form of arcs. In this embodiment, two kinds of U-shaped tubes having different sizes are used for the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B, and two arcs are formed by the through holes in the outer peripheral regions S which correspond to the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B. As shown in FIG. 6, the first through holes 30R and the second through holes 30S corresponding to the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second heat-transfer tube group B are basically arranged in three rows. (inner row, intermediate row and outer row). A distance between one of the first through holes 30R existing in the inner row and one of the second through holes 30S existing in the inner row at the corresponding location, a distance between one of the first through holes 30R existing in the intermediate row and one of the second through holes 30S in the intermediate row at the corresponding location, and a distance between one of the first through holes 30R existing in the outer row and one of the second through holes 30S existing in the outer row at the corresponding location are equal to each other. The first through holes 30R in the same row (inner row, intermediate row and outer row) are disposed in a form of an arc having the same curvature as that of the second through holes 30S existing in the corresponding row. In this embodiment, the second through holes 30S which correspond to the third heat-transfer tube group C and the fourth heat-transfer tube group D are disposed in the outer peripheral region S of the heating portion head 10 a between the second through holes 30S of the first heat-transfer tube group A and the second through holes 30S of the second heat-transfer tube group B. The first through holes 30R corresponding to the third heat-transfer tube group C and the fourth heat-transfer tube group D are disposed in the center region R of the heating portion head 10 a between the first through holes 30R of the first heat-transfer tube group A and the first through holes 30R of the second heat-transfer tube group B.

In this embodiment, as apparent from comparison in FIG. 5 or 6, it is possible to increase the first through holes 30R in the center region R of the heating portion head 10 a and the second through holes 30S in the outer peripheral region S, a flowing amount of the high temperature space 3 and the regeneration portion 5 can be increased and uniform flowing can be realized. Non-uniform degrees in the regenerator are moderated by internal gas flow caused by the second through holes 30S which are connected to upper and lower regenerators of a phantom axis Y. According to this, it is possible to reduce a reheating loss and to enhance the performance.

Another embodiment of the U-shaped tubes configuring the heating portion of the Stirling engine will be described using FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a partially cut-away perspective view of U-shaped tubes which configure the heating portion of the Stirling engine of this embodiment.

Each of U-shaped tubes 16 of this embodiment includes a smooth circular tube 16 a and a corrugated outer tube 16 b which is spirally formed around an outer surface of the smooth circular tube 16 a. Since operation gas flows through the smooth circular tube 16 a, a flow passage resistance is low, heat transfer of a location outside of the tube is promoted, and heat exchanging efficiency can be enhanced.

Although the outer tube 16 b is formed into the corrugated spiral shape and the smooth circular tube 16 a is formed into a straight tube having no corrugated spiral shape in FIG. 12, operation gas may be made to flow through the outer tube 16 b without providing the smooth circular tube 16 a. In this case, the heat transfer area is increased by the corrugated spiral shape, operation gas flow is disturbed, Reynolds number is enhanced in a turbulent flow region, the heat transfer is promoted and the heat exchanging efficiency can be enhanced.

Material of the U-shaped tubes which configure the heating portion of the Stirling engine according to the embodiment of the invention will be described below.

In the case of a Stirling engine used under a using environment where exhaust gas temperature is 500° C. or lower, if the U-shaped tube is made of copper having high thermal conductivity, the heat exchanging efficiency can be enhanced. If the U-shaped tube is made of copper, the heating portion head is made of copper or stainless steel. In the case of a Stirling engine used under a using environment where exhaust gas temperature is about 500° C. to 800° C., the U-shaped tube is made of stainless steel to secure strength. When the U-shaped tube is made of stainless steel, the heating portion head is made of stainless steel. When component of exhaust gas under the using environment contains corrosiveness component, U-shaped tube and a heating portion head made of copper or stainless steel are subjected to surface coating such as chromium-based surface coating, ceramic flame spraying (coating) or surface coating using Ni or carbon coating, thereby enhancing endurance. In the case of a Stirling engine used under a using environment where the exhaust gas temperature is 800° C. or higher, e.g., under a using environment of corrosive exhaust gas such as chlorine-based corrosive exhaust gas or corrosive exhaust gas such as nitric acidhydrofluoric acid, if the U-shaped tube is made of titanium or nickel-chromium alloy, reliability and endurance can be enhanced, and a weight of the engine can largely be reduced. Titanium has smaller density as compared with the stainless steel by about 40 to 50%, strength is high and density is smaller and thus, the member can be made thinner as compared with stainless steel, and this is especially suitable for a Stirling engine used in an incinerator and a glass smelting furnace. When the U-shaped tube is made of titanium, the heating portion head is made of stainless steel. In the case of titanium and nickel-chromium alloy, the heating portion head shows excellent welding properties by adjusting welding condition, and the U-shaped tube is inserted into a flue which configures the exhaust gas flow passage.

In this embodiment, the U-shaped tubes 11 a, (12, 13) 11 b and 11 c are disposed such that gaps are formed therebetween with respect to soot such as carbon included in exhaust gas. Therefore, a brush which passes through the gap is prepared, and the brush can easily pass through the gap between the U-shaped tubes. By periodically removing impurities such as soot which adheres to the U-shaped tubes at the time of maintenance, it is possible to recover the heat exchanging efficiency. If an outer surface of the U-shaped tube which comes into contact with exhaust gas is subjected to electrolytic polishing, projections and depressions of the outer tube are lessened and initial heat exchanging efficiency is deteriorated, but since impurities included in exhaust gas are less prone to adhere to the U-shaped tube, the heat exchanging efficiency can be enhanced in the medium-to-long-term forecast in terms of secular change.

Next, a method of removing impurities in a heat-transfer tube group in a power device or a power-generating device which uses a Stirling engine of the invention will be described.

The method of removing impurities in a heat-transfer tube group which will be described below can be applied even if the heat-transfer tube group do not have a configuration of the invention.

In order to eliminate the need of maintenance which avoid deterioration of heat exchanging efficiency of the heat-transfer tube or to increase the maintenance period, it is necessary to remove impurities of the heat-transfer tube during usage.

In the method of removing impurities in a heat-transfer tube group, detecting means which detects reduction in temperature of the heat-transfer tube group (U-shaped tubes) and control means which changes a flow rate of exhaust gas in a flue are provided, the detecting means detects reduction in temperature of the heat-transfer tube group, and the flow rate of exhaust gas is temporarily abruptly increased by the control means. According to this, impurities adhering to the heat-transfer tube group can be blown away.

According to this removing method, it is possible to effectively remove impurities which adhere to the heat-transfer tube group if the impurities have relatively weak adhering strength. The detecting means may detect a temperature of the heat-transfer tubes and the high temperature space 3, but it is preferable that the detecting means detects reduction of generated electricity when the method is used for the power-generating device, and the detecting means detects reduction in an output when the method is used for the power device. It is preferable that the control means can be set in a plurality of stages in accordance with a flow rate of exhaust gas to be increased. It is possible to effectively remove impurities by changing a flow rate of exhaust gas to be increased by the control means in accordance with the temperature reduction. It is also effective to provide timer means which sets operation time in the control means. The operation for increasing the flow rate of exhaust gas which is carried out by the control means may be completed when the detecting means detects that an amount of reduction in temperature of the heat-transfer tubes falls within a predetermined range.

If impurities which adhere to the heat-transfer tubes have high adhering strength, as the removing mode of impurities, it is effective to reduce the number of revolutions of the Stirling engine, to stop the operation of the Stirling engine, or reduce the amount of generated electricity at the Stirling engine, thereby rising a temperature of the heater.

Further, it is also effective to reversely rotate the Stirling engine using the Stirling engine operation-control means 45, to function the cooling portion 6 as a heating portion and to function the heating portion 10 as a cooling portion. According to the removing mode of impurities by reversely rotating the Stirling engine, the heat-transfer tubes configuring the heating portion 10 becomes the cooling portion, the heat-transfer tubes radiates heat and thus, a temperature at the heat-transfer tubes rises, and impurities which adhere to the heat-transfer tubes can be peeled off. Therefore, it is possible to increase the maintenance period, and to eliminate the need of the maintenance of the heat-transfer tube group depending upon a kind of exhaust gas.

The removing mode of impurities can be carried out by the detecting means which detects reduction in a temperature of the heat-transfer tube group (U-shaped tubes).

The removing mode of impurities may periodically be carried out based on predetermined processing time instead of the detecting means which detects the reduction in temperature of the heat-transfer tube group (U-shaped tubes). A reduction stage of the number of revolutions of the Stirling engine, a stop stage of operation of the Stirling engine, and a reverse rotation stage of the Stirling engine may be set in accordance with adhering strength of impurities, and they may be carried out in stages.

In this embodiment, entire heating portion head inserts and install into exhaust gas, but it is of course possible to carry out the invention in such a manner that waste heat inserts a solid heat source, i.e., the U-shaped tubes into a thermal insulation which is configured into a high temperature portion, e.g., furnace equipment such as a tunnel furnace formed around the U-shaped tubes by solid heat transfer which is connected to the high temperature portion, thereby recovering energy.

In a combustion type heating furnace such as an apparatus including an electric heater such as a CVD apparatus and a dispersion apparatus used in a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, an electric furnace used for dissolving such as alumina, and a natural gas, it is preferable to carry out cooling processing using a Stirling engine in a preceding process of a changing process of material or a cooling process. In the CVD apparatus and the dispersion apparatus having the high temperature process, a large amount of holding heat amount in the furnace in the high temperature gas atmosphere in the furnace where exhaust gas does not flow positively, and the furnace is cooled for changing material, the heat-transfer tubes such as the U-shaped tubes is inserted into the furnace instead of cooling by pneumatic transportation, thermal energy is taken into the Stirling engine by heat conduction of high temperature gas caused by the operation gas and according to this, energy can be recovered. In this case, the cooling operation is carried out from a heat-absorbing portion of a heater of the Stirling engine without absorbing heat using operation gas such as outside gas, thereby eliminating a way of escape and according to this, the Stirling engine can absorb heat. Although time required until temperature of the heater portion of the Stirling engine rises becomes slight long due to heat conduction of gas, the Stirling engine can absorb most of the effective heat amount in the furnace, energy can be recovered efficiently, it is easy to control a cooling temperature and excessive cooling operation is not carried out uselessly.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The Stirling engine of the present invention can be utilized as a power-generating device and a power device which makes full use of a heat source such as waste heat and biomass. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A Stirling engine, comprising: a high temperature space; a low temperature space; a displacer piston, wherein a first end of the displacer piston faces the high temperature space, and an opposing second end of the displacer piston faces the low temperature space, and an operation gas is directed to flow between the high temperature space and the low temperature space; a regeneration portion configured on an outer periphery of the displacer piston; and a heating portion configured at a position opposed to the first end of the displacer piston across the high temperature space, wherein the heating portion is configured to heat and to expand an operation gas contained therein, the heating portion including a heating portion head, which defines at least a portion of the high temperature space, wherein the heating portion head includes: a first group of through holes including a first set of holes in communication with the high temperature space, and a second set of holes in communication with the regeneration portion, the first set of holes being configured closer to a center region of the heating portion head as compared to the second set of holes, a first set of U-shaped tubes mounted on the heating portion head, wherein one ends of the first set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the first set of holes, respectively, and other ends of the first set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the second set of holes, respectively, the first set of U-shaped tubes is arranged so that first legs of the first set of U-shaped tubes mounted to the first set of holes are parallel with respect to each other to form a first set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages, each of the first set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by the first legs of the first set of U-shaped tubes, second legs of the first set of U-shaped tubes mounted to the second set of holes are parallel with respect to each other to form a second set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages, each of the second set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by the second legs of the first set of U-shaped tubes, the first set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages and the second set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages are parallel with respect to each other, a second group of through holes including a third set of holes in communication with the high temperature space, and a fourth set of holes in communication with the regeneration portion, the third set of holes being configured closer to a center region of the heating portion head as compared to the fourth set of holes, a second set of U-shaped tubes mounted on the heating portion head, wherein one ends of the second set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the third set of holes, respectively, and other ends of the second set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the fourth set of holes, respectively, the second set of U-shaped tubes is configured parallelly with respect to each other to form a third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages between each pair of the second set of U-shaped tubes, each of the third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by legs of the second set of U-shaped tubes, and the first set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages and the third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages are parallel with respect to each other.
 2. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the fourth set of holes is disposed in a form of an arc.
 3. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein each of the second set of U-shaped tubes includes a smooth circular tube and a corrugated outer tube which is spirally formed around an outer surface of the smooth circular tube.
 4. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the second set of U-shaped tubes is made of copper.
 5. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the second set of U-shaped tubes is made of stainless steel.
 6. The Stirling engine according to claim 5, wherein the heating portion head is made of stainless steel.
 7. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the second set of U-shaped tubes is made of titanium or nickel-chromium alloy.
 8. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein each of the first set of U-shaped tubes is longer than each of the second set of U-shaped tubes.
 9. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the heating portion head further includes: a third group of through holes including a fifth set of holes in communication with the high temperature space, and a sixth set of holes in communication with the regeneration portion, the fifth set of holes being configured closer to a center region of the heating portion head as compared to the sixth set of holes, a third set of U-shaped tubes mounted on the heating portion head, wherein one ends of the third set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the fifth set of holes, respectively, and other ends of the third set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the sixth set of holes, respectively, the third set of U-shaped tubes have legs that are configured parallelly with respect to each other and with respect to the legs of the second set of U-shaped tubes to form the third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages between each pair of the third set of U-shaped tubes, and each of the third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by the legs of the third set of U-shaped tubes.
 10. The Stirling engine according to claim 9, wherein the second set of U-shaped tubes and the third set of U-shaped tubes are configured symmetrically with respect to a division phantom line of the heating portion head as viewed from above.
 11. The Stirling engine according to claim 9, wherein the heating portion head further includes: a fourth group of through holes including a seventh set of holes in communication with the high temperature space, and a eighth set of holes in communication with the regeneration portion, the seventh set of holes being configured closer to a center region of the heating portion head as compared to the eighth set of holes, a fourth set of U-shaped tubes mounted on the heating portion head, wherein one ends of the fourth set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the seventh set of holes, respectively, and other ends of the fourth set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the eighth set of holes, respectively, the fourth set of U-shaped tubes is arranged so that first legs of the fourth set of U-shaped tubes mounted to the seventh set of holes are parallel with respect to each other to form a fourth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages, each of the fourth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by the first legs of the fourth set of U-shaped tubes, the fourth set of U-shaped tubes is arranged so that second legs of the fourth set of U-shaped tubes mounted to the eighth set of holes are parallel with respect to each other to form a fifth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages, each of the fifth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by the second legs of the fourth set of U-shaped tubes, the fourth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages and the fifth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages are parallel with respect to each other, and the first set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages and the fourth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages are parallel with respect to each other.
 12. The Stirling engine according to claim 11, wherein each of the first set of U-shaped tubes and the fourth set of U-shaped tubes are longer than each of the second set of U-shaped tubes and the third set of U-shaped tubes.
 13. The Stirling engine according to claim 11, the first set of U-shaped tubes and the second set of U-shaped tubes are configured symmetrically with respect to a division phantom line of the heating portion head as viewed from above.
 14. The Stirling engine according to claim 13, the third set of U-shaped tubes and the fourth set of U-shaped tubes are configured symmetrically with respect to a second division phantom line of the heating portion head as viewed from above, wherein the division phantom line and the second division phantom line are perpendicular with respect to each other.
 15. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the heating portion head further includes: a third group of through holes including a fifth set of holes in communication with the high temperature space, and a sixth set of holes in communication with the regeneration portion, the fifth set of holes being configured closer to a center region of the heating portion head as compared to the sixth set of holes, a third set of U-shaped tubes mounted on the heating portion head, wherein one ends of the third set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the fifth set of holes, respectively, and other ends of the third set of U-shaped tubes are mounted to the sixth set of holes, respectively, the third set of U-shaped tubes is arranged so that first legs of the third set of U-shaped tubes mounted to the fifth set of holes are parallel with respect to each other to form a third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages, each of the third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by the first legs of the third set of U-shaped tubes, the third set of U-shaped tubes is arranged so that second legs of the third set of U-shaped tubes mounted to the sixth set of holes are parallel with respect to each other to form a fourth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages, each of the fourth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages being defined by planes defined by the second legs of the third set of U-shaped tubes, the third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages and the fourth set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages are parallel with respect to each other, and the first set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages and the third set of parallel exhaust gas flow passages are parallel with respect to each other.
 16. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein each of the first set of U-shaped tubes includes a smooth circular tube and a corrugated outer tube which is spirally formed around an outer surface of the smooth circular tube.
 17. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the first set of U-shaped tubes is made of copper.
 18. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the first set of U-shaped tubes is made of stainless steel.
 19. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the heating portion head is made of stainless steel.
 20. The Stirling engine according to claim 1, wherein the first set of U-shaped tubes is made of titanium or nickel-chromium alloy. 